Foot-pedal control.



J. G. HEASLET.

FOOT PEDAL CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1915.

1,171 ,845. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W/TNES 5E5 ymrok &. fli

ATTOR EY J. G. HEASLET.

FOOT PEDAL CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1915 1,171,845. PatentedFeb. 15,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSE I 7 ENTOR W v 4 Wm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECFI.

JAMES e. HEASLET, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR ro THE STUDEBAKERCORPORATION, A CORPORATION on NEW JnRsnY.

FOOT-PEDAL oonTRoL.

Specification of Letters I 'atent. I I Patented Feb, 15 1916,

Application filed September 4, 1915 Serial No. 4 8,945.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. HEAsLn'r, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Pedal Control, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in foot pedal throttlecontrolling means, as the same are employed in motor vehicles.

In the operation of internal combustion motors, it is desirable to havefuel supply controlled by both a hand lever and a foot pedal. The handlever is usually operated to fix the fuel supply at a normal volume;where a larger volume is required to meet conditions of abnormal load,etc., the foot pedal is employed. Such foot pedal is operated againstthe tension of a spring, hence the pressure of the foot must always beexerted against such tension, with a variable degree of pressureaccording as a greater or less volume of gas is required.

In practice it has been found difficult to regulate such foot pressure,so as to maintain a uniform supply of fuel to the motor, particularly.is this so where the road bed is rough or uneven. The jolting of the carpresents seriousobstacles to the exercise of uni form foot pressure, andwhere the pressure of the foot is variable, an unequal supply of gas isdelivered to the motor, resulting in a surging action of the motor whichis undesirable.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby a foot pedal maybe automatically locked against foot pressure at any point in itsmovement, so long as such foot pressure exceeds the spring pressureopposed thereto, in combination with means for controlling said lockoperated by foot movement. Hence during such period as the foot pedal islocked the supply of gas to the motor is uniform.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings,designating'the parts by numerals, and referring to like parts by likenumerals.

Figure l is a vertical section of my device partlv in elevation, showingthe same as locked against downward pressure of the foot. Fig. 2 is thesame drawing showing the device unlocKed and in position to be operatedby the pressure of the foot. Fig. 3

is a'section taken at right angles to the section. of F ig. 1, showingthe plunger and foot pedal in elevation Fig. 4 is a plan view 01" thefoot pedal. Fig. 5 is the plan of a section taken on lines 5-5,of Fig.1.

1 illustrates a section of the floor of a eral wall of the sleeve 2.Said recess also has a base 9.

ll) is a sleeve integral with the plunger 5 and adapted, to receive arod 11 which is mounted to reciprocate therein.

12 is a throttle connecting rod secured to one end of the plunger 5 andpassing through an aperture in the casing 13, the latter being securedto the floorfl by the bolts 3. H

14: is a helical spring surrounding the throttle rodl2 and having itsbearing with.- in the casingl3'and against one end of the plunger 5,itstension being opposed to the foot pressure upon the pedalandplunger'5.

15 is a foot pedal provided with a toepiece 16 and a bracket 17, sai'd'bracket being pivoted to one end of the plunger 5 at 18.

19 is a steel ball adapted to play within the recess 7 and between thebeveledwall 8 and the internal peripheralwall of the sleeve 2.

20 is a helical spring resting on the base 9 of the recess 7 and havingits bearing against the steelball 19, such tension being directed todrive the ball between the beveled wall 8 and the internalperipheralwall of the sleeve 2. A front view of the recess 7, ball 19and spring 20 is shown in Fig. 3,

the front half of the sleeve 2 being cut away to exhibit the same.

The foperationfof my device is as follows :The foot rests on the pedal15. Said pedal is capable/of a rocking movement on its pivot 18 so thatby pressure on the toe piece 16 of the pedal, thepedal is rocked andcaused to engage the plunger 11,which in turnis 'moved'in the sleeve 10and engages the ball 19, which in turn depresses iio 5 may bereciprocated to control the throttle,

such reciprocating movement being guided by the pin r and spline 6.lVhen however the operator desires to lock the plunger ular point, hetilts the pedal 15 backward, thus relieving the pressure on the ball 19,which in turn by the spring 20 is driven between the wall 8 and theinternal periphery of the sleeve 2, whereit operates between said wallsagainst further downw ard pressure as an interposed wed e; consequentlyany amount of pressure may be exerted by the loot against the pedal andplunger without driving the plunger farther into the sleeve 2 and hencewithout danger of disturbing the throttle which will remain in saidposition so long as the pressure of the root on the pedal exceeds thepressure of the spring ll, which as previously stated, has its tensionopposed to the pressure of the foot. As soon as the pressure of the footis relieved sufiiciently to permit said spring to operate, the plunger 2is again moved in a direction. toward the pedal and the will be obvioustherefore, that'at any point in the reciprocal movement of the, plungerby the operation of the foot, the same may be locked against downwardpressure, so that the operator may by this means ailord a positive restfor his foot, and by so doing, assure a uniformsupply of 'gasolene tothe engine. The means however of releasing the lock interposed isavailable by tilting the foot slightly so as-to cause the ball to bereleased trom its position where it operates as a wedge between saidwalls.

llhat 1 claim is 1. A foot pedal throttle control embodying, incombination, a pedal mounted to be operated byfoot pressure, and tocontrol a throttle operating member, means to normally retain the pedalin such position as to maintainv the throttle operating member inthrottle-closing position, means for auto- 'matically locking the pedalagainst foot pressure, and means operated by foot movement to controlsaid locking means.

2. A foot pedal throttle control embodying a movable member mounted tobe operated by foot pressure for the purpose of controlling a throttleoperating member, means for normally maintaining the throttle operatingmechanism in throttle closing position as opposed to foot pressure,means for automatically locking the movable member against footpressure, and means operable by foot movement to control said lockingmeans. 7

3. A foot pedal throttle control embody against downward movement at anyparticthrottle valve controlled accordingly. It

connection controlled by the movements thereof, a guide for said movablemember,

means for normally locking the movable member, against ioot pressure, inany of its positions in the guide, and means, operable by foot movement,to control said locking.

means.

A. foot pedal throttle control embodying a movable member mounted to beoperatec by foot pressure, a tln'ottleoperating connection controlled bythe movements thereof, a guide for said movable member, a lockingmember, means normally impelling the locking member into its locked po--sition to preclude the peration of the movable member by foot pressure,and means operable by foot movement to release said locking member.

A foot pedal throttle control embodying movable member mounted to beoperated by toot pressure and provided with a surface inclined todirection of travel of said member, a ottle-operating connectioncooperating v i the movable member and controlled by the movementsthereof, a guideifor said movable member, a springa'ctu'ated lockingmember normally in engagement with the inclined surface of the movablemember for locking the latter against movement by foot pressure, andmeans operable by foot movement to depress the locking member againstthe tension of its spring, thereby allowing the -movable member to bemoved by foot pressure.

6. A foot pedal throttle control embodying a movable member'mounted toDeeperated by foot pressure and provided with a'surtace inclined to thedirection of travel of said member, a throttle-operating connectioncooperating with the movable member and controlled by the movementsthereof, a guide for said movable member, a spring-- actuated lockingmember positioned between the inclined surface of the movable member andthe guide andnormally in engagement with both whereby the application offoot pressure to the movablemember .vcdges the locking member betweenthe guide and the movable member and precludes movement otthe latter,and means operable by foot movement to dislodgethe locking memberfromsuch wedgingengagement for the purpose of allowing of the actuationof the movable member by foot pressure.

7. A foot pedal throttle control embodying a fixed sleeve, a mainplunger positioned for reciprocating movement therein, athrottle-controlling connection secured to one end of the plunger, meanspositioned between the plunger and the sleeve for normally locking theformer against reciprocal move ment, and a secondary plunger mounted onthe main plunger and "reciprocable relative thereto, said secondaryplunger being operable by foot pressure to release the locking means toallow of the actuation of the main plunger.

8. A foot pedal throttle control embodying a fixed sleeve, a plunger toreciprocate therein, the plunger being provided at one end with athrottle-operating connection and carrying at the other end thereof apedal pivoted thereon, a second plunger carried by the first-mentionedplunger and mounted to reciprocate and to be engaged by said foot pedalin its pivotal movement, meansinterposed between the sleeve and plungerto lock the plunger against reciprocal movement within the sleeve,such'locking means being controlled by the reciprocation of the secondplunger as it is operated by said pivotal movement of the pedal.

9. A foot pedal throttle control embodying a fixed sleeve, a mainplunger mounted for reciprocating movement therein, said plunger beingprovided at one end with a throttle-operating connection and carrying atthe other end thereof a pedal pivoted thereon, a chamber formed in thewall of the plunger within the sleeve, said chamber extendinglongitudinally of the plunger and tapering toward the end of the plungerto V with a secondary plunger extending longitudinally of the mainplunger and interposed between the ball and one end of the foot pedal,said secondary plunger being operable, when the pedal is pivotallymoved, to engage and depress the ball against the tension of itscooperating spring for the v purpose of disengaging the ball from saidwalls and allowing of the actuation of the main plunger in thepedal-operated direction.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, this 31st day of August 1915.

JAMES G. HEASLET.

Witnesses:

R. E. SCRATCH, ROY O. GAMBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

" Washington, D. G.

